Reflect on your previous blogs and the activities we have done this semester. Which class was your favorite, and why?
Do you think the classes adequately prepared you for trip? If yes, how so? If no, then why not?
I think that my favorite class would be when the acting group came and performed for us. It was definitely the most entertaining and it made me look at things from a different point of view. I felt like the majority of the classes were rather repetitive; however, this specific class time relayed the same information that we learned in all the other classes in the most interesting form. I would not say it is necessarily a negative aspect that the classes were extremely overlapping because that is the most effective way to drill the information that we need to know for being most adequately prepared for our sites. Also, people learn in very different ways and I feel like there is no way everyone did not take away what the needed to learn from this class because the information was accessible through so many different means. The most overlapping classes were the ones involving Dr. Harding and Bulaong's presentations. Perhaps, one of those could have been knocked out, but overall I appreciated all of the classes. I feel like more time could be spent on the logistics of what will be happening on everyone’s trips specific to their site.
My favorite class this semester was the class where we got to choose what top three issues are the most important to us. Out of the ten listed I chose access to food/water, peace and security, and human rights. It took me a good amount of time to pick these top three and put them in order of most importance to me. This is why I think this was my favorite class because it got me to think the most. Then we watched the video about money distribution in America and read articles relating to problems we will face on our trips. That video and activity were really interesting to me and got me to think even more. I learned something new in every class so I feel very prepared for the trip. I have been on a few other week-long volunteer trips and I feel like I am more prepared than I have ever been compared to my trips in the past. Every class was relatable to my trip in some way. For example, during my favorite class of the semester I realized how important peace and security is. During my trip I will be volunteering in a mental facility that houses patients who are not mentally stable for society. Most of these patients have been deemed to dangerous to live outside of this facility. Without hospitals like the one I will be volunteering in, our society’s peace and security would be at risk. I am now more prepared going in with the knowledge of how important the work of this hospital truly is.
My favorite class this semester was the class that Blane Harding came to speak with us. I really appreciated his approach to such a sensitive topic, privilege. I thought he spoke in a way that was eye opening and motivating without being offensive. Many times in topics like this speakers approach the topic in such a way that makes people feel guilty and uncomfortable but Dr. Harding didn’t make me feel that way at all. I think these classes definitely prepared me for my trip. They exposed me not only to the different cultures that I might be interacting with but also to the different mindsets of the people we are trying to help. I think it was really useful to read the articles about how sometimes volunteering is hurtful instead of helpful. Many times we forget that even though we think we are doing good others might not want us there. There were a few classes that felt like they were the exact same content though and in those cases I think it would have been more beneficial to remove one of those lessons and give us a different lesson. I would have liked a project with our group to research our topic and then share with the entire group so that we could have learned more about the other sites and our own. I think that this project would also have been a great icebreaker to get our groups to bond more. Overall, I feel very prepared for my trip and can’t wait for the experience.
My favorite speaker was Dr. Blane Harding, who spoke to us about cultural awareness and cultural competency. I think that his presentation was particularly pertinent to the site that my group will be going to, which is Amicus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We will be working with a population unfamiliar to those of us in the group. It is important for us to be both aware of and competent with the people we will be helping. The way that Dr. Harding approached the subject was excellent; he handed the sensitiveness of all of probably situations well. I think that my group members and I need to be careful and attempt to use to use a similar approach. I do believe that the Alternative Break classes have prepared me well for going to Minneapolis this January. We have addressed a wide variety of issues, which I think has covered just about anything that we will probably run into. I am very glad that Alternative Breaks provides these classes to aid participants in their breaks. Without these classes, going on an Alternative Break would be much more daunting. In particular, I think that Dr. Blane Harding’s presentation, Dr. Kala Stroup’s presentation, and the time we spent discussing the pros and cons of volunteering in an unfamiliar place have been the most valuable classes. I am greatly looking forward to my break, especially after so much preparation.
I don't believe that all the classes really were helpful. There were some, such as the safety class and Bulaong's presentation that were really unnecessary. Bulaong's presentation was really just a recap of what Dr. Harding discussed with us. As for the safety class, I think a lot of that could have been said in a short presentation by either of the directors.
I don't think I'm ready quite yet because most of the information that we receive is too general. Having speakers come in to speak about specific topics to certain groups could be helpful. As in C&T professors come in to talk about different teaching/tutoring strategies for those of us going to schools.
I think my favorite class was when the improv group came in and gave us a skit. I think what I learned from that skit was some of the most helpful information I've learned. They gave us different scenarios and different helpful examples to prepare us for what we might expect.
I think that my favorite class would be when the acting group came and performed for us. It was definitely the most entertaining and it made me look at things from a different point of view. I felt like the majority of the classes were rather repetitive; however, this specific class time relayed the same information that we learned in all the other classes in the most interesting form. I would not say it is necessarily a negative aspect that the classes were extremely overlapping because that is the most effective way to drill the information that we need to know for being most adequately prepared for our sites. Also, people learn in very different ways and I feel like there is no way everyone did not take away what the needed to learn from this class because the information was accessible through so many different means. The most overlapping classes were the ones involving Dr. Harding and Bulaong's presentations. Perhaps, one of those could have been knocked out, but overall I appreciated all of the classes. I feel like more time could be spent on the logistics of what will be happening on everyone’s trips specific to their site.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite class this semester was the class where we got to choose what top three issues are the most important to us. Out of the ten listed I chose access to food/water, peace and security, and human rights. It took me a good amount of time to pick these top three and put them in order of most importance to me. This is why I think this was my favorite class because it got me to think the most. Then we watched the video about money distribution in America and read articles relating to problems we will face on our trips. That video and activity were really interesting to me and got me to think even more. I learned something new in every class so I feel very prepared for the trip. I have been on a few other week-long volunteer trips and I feel like I am more prepared than I have ever been compared to my trips in the past. Every class was relatable to my trip in some way. For example, during my favorite class of the semester I realized how important peace and security is. During my trip I will be volunteering in a mental facility that houses patients who are not mentally stable for society. Most of these patients have been deemed to dangerous to live outside of this facility. Without hospitals like the one I will be volunteering in, our society’s peace and security would be at risk. I am now more prepared going in with the knowledge of how important the work of this hospital truly is.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite class this semester was the class that Blane Harding came to speak with us. I really appreciated his approach to such a sensitive topic, privilege. I thought he spoke in a way that was eye opening and motivating without being offensive. Many times in topics like this speakers approach the topic in such a way that makes people feel guilty and uncomfortable but Dr. Harding didn’t make me feel that way at all.
ReplyDeleteI think these classes definitely prepared me for my trip. They exposed me not only to the different cultures that I might be interacting with but also to the different mindsets of the people we are trying to help. I think it was really useful to read the articles about how sometimes volunteering is hurtful instead of helpful. Many times we forget that even though we think we are doing good others might not want us there.
There were a few classes that felt like they were the exact same content though and in those cases I think it would have been more beneficial to remove one of those lessons and give us a different lesson. I would have liked a project with our group to research our topic and then share with the entire group so that we could have learned more about the other sites and our own. I think that this project would also have been a great icebreaker to get our groups to bond more. Overall, I feel very prepared for my trip and can’t wait for the experience.
My favorite speaker was Dr. Blane Harding, who spoke to us about cultural awareness and cultural competency. I think that his presentation was particularly pertinent to the site that my group will be going to, which is Amicus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We will be working with a population unfamiliar to those of us in the group. It is important for us to be both aware of and competent with the people we will be helping. The way that Dr. Harding approached the subject was excellent; he handed the sensitiveness of all of probably situations well. I think that my group members and I need to be careful and attempt to use to use a similar approach.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the Alternative Break classes have prepared me well for going to Minneapolis this January. We have addressed a wide variety of issues, which I think has covered just about anything that we will probably run into. I am very glad that Alternative Breaks provides these classes to aid participants in their breaks. Without these classes, going on an Alternative Break would be much more daunting. In particular, I think that Dr. Blane Harding’s presentation, Dr. Kala Stroup’s presentation, and the time we spent discussing the pros and cons of volunteering in an unfamiliar place have been the most valuable classes. I am greatly looking forward to my break, especially after so much preparation.
I don't believe that all the classes really were helpful. There were some, such as the safety class and Bulaong's presentation that were really unnecessary. Bulaong's presentation was really just a recap of what Dr. Harding discussed with us. As for the safety class, I think a lot of that could have been said in a short presentation by either of the directors.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm ready quite yet because most of the information that we receive is too general. Having speakers come in to speak about specific topics to certain groups could be helpful. As in C&T professors come in to talk about different teaching/tutoring strategies for those of us going to schools.
I think my favorite class was when the improv group came in and gave us a skit. I think what I learned from that skit was some of the most helpful information I've learned. They gave us different scenarios and different helpful examples to prepare us for what we might expect.